Kell protein proteolytic activity

Abstract

A method for cleaving polypeptides includes contacting a polypeptide with a recombinant or isolated Kell protein having proteolytic activity for the polypeptide. A method for converting big endothelins-1, -2 and -3 to endothelins-1, -2 and -3 respectively comprises contacting the big endothelin with Kell protein having proteolytic activity for cleaving big endothelin-1, -2 and -3 to endothelin-1, -2 or -3 respectively. In another embodiment, the Kell protein cleaves vasoactive intestinal peptide.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of cleaving Big Endothelin-1, -2, or -3 or vasoactive intestinal peptide comprising contacting Big Endothelin-1, -2, or -3 or vasoactive intestinal peptide with recombinant or isolated Kell proteins having proteolytic activity for cleaving Big Endothelin-1, -2. or -3 or vasoactive intestinal peptide. 
     
     
       2. A method of converting big endothelin to endothelin comprising contacting big endothelin-1, -2 or -3 with recombinant or isolated Kell proteins having proteolytic activity for cleaving big endothelin-1, -2 or -3 to endothelin-1, -2 or -3 respectively. 
     
     
       3. A method of cleaving vasoactive intestinal peptide comprising contacting the vasoactive intestinal peptide with recombinant or isolated Kell proteins having proteolytic activity for cleaving vasoactive peptide.